OREANDA-NEWS. July 27, 2009. The state is interested in engaging private business in marketing Belarusian products abroad, President Alexander Lukashenko said in the course of his meeting with Premier Sergei Sidorsky during which the Prime Minister delivered his report to the Head of State, reported the Official website president.gov.by.

‘Let us encourage our businessmen, ask them to help out with the selling of warehouse overstocks,’ said the President. ‘Entrepreneurs could help a great deal. But so far, we have not done it – the government does not hear what I am saying.’

Strict control measures will be taken in the near future to make sure presidential instructions are fulfilled, said Alexander Lukashenko. ‘First of all it means the selling of excess stock accumulated in warehouses,’ said the Head of State. ‘I would not say that problems with sales are terrifying and dramatic, but that today’s level is inadmissible is a fact,’ he added.

Commenting on the proposals coming from the Government and heads of some companies to provide budget support to producers, Alexander Lukashenko said, ‘The budget is not meant to be spent on providing massive support to the producers that should earn money themselves. This is an axiom’. ‘The situation with the selling of products will be monitored on a weekly basis, and by analysing this information we will see how companies work,’ added the President.

‘The solving of the issues that our businessmen and heads of companies ask me to resolve takes too much time,’ said the Head of State. ‘Deadlines are extended, and what causes concern is that it happens at a time when some issues need to be resolved as quickly as within 24 hours.’

Alexander Lukashenko said he wanted to listen to what Vladimir Peftiyev, the chairman of the stockholders meeting at ZAO Beltekhexport, who was attending the meeting, had to say in this respect.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, there will be more meetings with businessmen, ‘There is a need to talk to our businessmen who can help promote products in traditional and non-traditional markets today’.

The Head of State ordered the Government to breif him on the progress made in accomplishing his instructions with regard to investment projects, and specifically concerning an urban development project in Makayonka Street in Minsk.